American War for Independence The World Turned Upside Down

Causes of American Independence: What British wanted from American Colonies after French and Indian War –Money to pay back debts from the War → Stamp Act, Townshend Acts, Tea Act –Control over the Colonies, their trade and economy → Declaratory Act, Tea Act, order to stop issuing paper money (“mercantalism”) –Peace with Native Americans → Proclamation of 1763 – don’t move west of Appalachian Mts.

Causes of American Independence (cont.) : What the American Colonies wanted/ why they objected to British actions: –Relief from taxation during bad economic times (Stamp Act hit colonies during peacetime recession) –Representation in Parliament (“No taxation without representation”) –Land / Freedom to move west, now that French were gone –Independence/ Self-determination/ Freedom from discrimination as commoners

Was War Inevitable? American colonists were not initially eager to separate from Britain; Colonists wanted respect for their rights as British citizens; the right to self-rule, but also the privileges of being in the British empire The war between Britain and the American colonists, and the drive for Independence, was due in part to bad decisions and miscommunication Other reasons for the war and independence: –The effects of the enlightenment in promoting self-government and equality among men –Geographic separation between colonies and the Mother County –Differences that developed over time between style of life in the colonies and that in Britain (in America, more violence, more independence, less hierarchy, larger middle class)

A Series of Acts/Laws, and Increasing Tensions Proclamation of 1763: Colonists can’t move west of Appl. Mtns, Stamp Act: Requires stamps to be placed on wide variety of goods & documents. First tax directly imposed by Britain on colonies for exclusive benefit of Britain Declaratory Act: After colonial protests result in repeal of Stamp Act, Britain declares right to tax and control colonies however they see fit Townshend Acts: New series of taxes on colonies Boston “Masssacre”: British troops shoot at angry mob of Colonists, killing 5 Tea Act: East India Company given special privileges to sell tea without paying taxes that American tea companies had to pay

The War starts in New England Boston Tea Party convinces Britain that Massachusetts is out of control; Britain closes port of Boston and other ports, militarily occupies much of Massachusetts (“Intolerable Acts”) This action convinces Mass. colonists that they must prepare to fight & form the Minutemen, and convinces remaining colonies that they must unite, form First Continental Congress First battles are at Lexington and Concord (shot heard round the world), an American victory British win at Battle of Bunker Hill, but their high losses convince them this will be no minor skirmish Americans unsuccessfully attempt to invade Canada; sides trade victories in early part of war

Road to Independence Continental Congress attempts Olive Branch petition, seeking peace with Britain if it removes its troops; is ignored by British Thomas Paine publishes Common Sense, argues strongly for Independence Britain invades New York and drives Washington’s army into New Jersey Feeling it has no other choice, 2d Continental Congress adopts Declaration of Independence Washington gets victory at Trenton to Princeton to stop British winning streak; gets new recruits

Advantages of British/Americans Advantages of British Largest, best-trained army in the world Large navy that can blockade U.S. ports Many loyalists that can sabotage colonists’ efforts More experienced generals Advantages of Colonists Willing to use non-traditional military (guerrilla) tactics Perhaps better shooting soldiers Fighting at home; know the terrain, can get help from locals, not going to leave More highly motivated; fighting for their lives and freedom They know British ultimately have to go home Help from the French and Spanish

Colonists hold on during tough times Colonial army almost falls apart during winters of and while encamped at Valley Forge, PA (“the times that try mens’ souls”) Americans face defeat at Fort Ticonderoga and at Brandywine; British take over capital - Philadelphia American victory at Saratoga is turning point: Britain fails to cut colonies in 2 and France is convinced that America can win and joins its side Help of France and Spain is key to winning the war, because it means British blockade can be broken and it can hold on for the long haul British turns efforts south, but with limited success

Americans gain victories in West, South Americans gain victories in Vincennes, Indiana British capture Savannah, GA and Charleston, SC and Camden, SC British attempt to invade North Carolina; Americans win at Kings Mountain and Cowpens American reinforcements convince British General Cornwallis to move to Yorktown, VA With assistance of French troops and navy, Americans form a force twice the size of the British and prevent Cornwallis’ escape, forcing him to surrender; last major battle of the war

Treaty of Paris It is not until 2 years after the Battle of Yorktown that the British and the colonists reach a peace agreement Under the Treaty of Paris reached in 1783: –Britain recognizes independence of the U.S. –Northern border of U.S. set as the Great Lakes –U.S. gets all the territory east of the Mississippi River other than Florida, which was returned to Spain –Britain agrees to withdraw its remaining troops –U.S. agrees to not punish loyalists, to return any land confiscated from them; despite this agreement, loyalists are persecuted after the war, and many will flee to present-day Canada Despite the peace treaty, problems remain: debt, weak government, threats from Native Americans, Spanish and remaining British → US Constitution